Former folding apparatus for rotary and like printing machines



Sept. 12, 1961 URKI ET AL 2,999,685

FORMER FOLDING APPARATUS FOR ROTARY AND LIKE PRINTING MACHINES FiledJune 7, 1960 I/NVQNMRS A RENE gale/(1m EDu/m) vo/v HEW Uiteci Theinvention relates to improvements in a grooving funnel for use inconjunction with rotary printing machines or other machines providedwith grooving devices.

In conventional machines the paper Webs to be grooved are conducted overgrooving funnels. As longas there are only a few superposed webs to begrooved, no special rates atent The paper webs 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. up toany desired very substantial number are fed down the grooving funnelplate 6 over the funnel roll for delivery to a subsequent tension device(not illustrated) underneath the grooving funnel nose 7. The groovingfunnel extends slopingly at an angle in the order of about 50 degrees to75 degrees to the horizontal.

difiiculties generally arise, and the resulting groove is satisfactory.With a great number of webs or layers of paper, however, at least one ofthe inner webs tends to form folds, which extend from the groove outwardto the free edges.

This phenomenon is the result of the thickness of the bundle of paperwebs which can no longer be disregarded. As long as only a few paperwebs run over the funnel, there is generally little need to provide andadjust a tensioning device under the funnel, and the paper webs need notbe pressed too firmly on the funnel. With increasing number of webs,however, they must be gripped more firmly, so that the groove does notgo astray. The webs are thus tensioned and the bottom web bearing on thefunnel in conventional devices is braked, because of the friction on thefunnel surface and the sides of the funnel, and lags slightly behind theupper webs, forming a bag between the funnel feed roll and the funnel.This bag does not stand still, but slides down more or less periodicallyover the funnel and is squeezed by the tensioning device to form folds.

The present invention eliminates these disadvantages and employs asimple tensioning mechanism for the grooving device. It is characterizedin that the grooving cylinder is provided with at least one driventension cylinder supported transverse to the direction of motion of thepaper webs, and that at least one adjustable pressure roller is arrangedabove the paper webs.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision oftensioning means for a grooving device which facilitates the grooving ofa very substantial number of paper webs while eliminating the tendencyof the inner paper Webs to form folds.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a groovingdevice for simultaneously grooving of a greater number of paper websthan heretofore possible.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provisionof means permitting the adjustment of pres sure rollers with respect tothe tensioning cylinders of a grooving device, so that any desirednumber of paper webs may be conveniently grooved.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeans allowing the adjustment of pressure rollers forming importantelements of the invention, both simultaneously and individually, asneeded.

Thus, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the foregoing descriptionproceeds, are attained by this grooving device a preferred embodimentbeing shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is avertical sectional view of the grooving device according to the presentinvention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is schematicallydisclosed the manner in which the invention may be realized.

On the rear side of the grooving funnel 6 are transversely andadjustably mounted, for example, three tension cylinders or drums 8, 9,10, three recesses 11, 12, 13 being provided in the grooving funnel sothat the exterior surfaces of the tension cylinders are aligned with thesurface of the grooving funnel. The plate 6 is contoured so that therecesses substantially conform to the tension cylinders 8, 9 and 10.

The tension cylinders 8, 9, 10 can be adjusted so as to to be slightlyprojecting with respect to the surface of the grooving funnel byadjusting means, not shown.

The drive of the tension cylinders is effected, for example, by thefunnel roll 5 over the V-belt pulley 14, idler 15, V-belt 16, to theV-belt pulley 17 driving the shaft 18 and transmitting the rotary motionto the tension cylinders 8, 9, 10 over the V-belt pulley 19, idlers 20,21 by means of the V-belts 22. The V-belts arranged as set forth providea timed operation for the device. Instead of the V-belts, it is alsopossible to use chains or other means for the drive.

Above the paper webs 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. there are arranged pressure rollers23, 24, 25 in the range of and adjacent the respective tensioncylinders, swingably mounted in two-part holders 26, 27, 28 which aresecured in the supports 29 and 30. The supports 29' and 30 areadjustably locked on the shaft 31. The pressure rollers 23, 24, 25 canbe adjusted individually by the adjusting screws 32, 33, 34 so that thepressure rolelrs can be turned about the pins 35, 36, 37. The commonsimultaneous swivelling of the pressure rollers is achieved by turningthe lockable supports 29 and 30 on the shaft 31.

In operation, the paper Webs 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. are fed over the funnelroll 5 and then on the inclined surface of the grooving funnel plate 6,so as to pass between the respective tension cylinders 8, 9 and 10 andpressure rollers 23, 24 and 25. The tension cylinders 8, 9 and 10 arepreferably driven by the V-belted drive in timed relation to the funnelroll 5 with the surface speed of the tension cylinder being at leastequal to the surface speed of the funnel roll, whereby, in conjunctionwith the suitable pressure supplied on the web by the pressure rollers23, 24 and 25, there will be no tendency to form folds or bags in any ofthe paper webs.

Thus it can be seen that there has been provided a grooving funnel forrotary printing machines and like apparatus which includes a groovingfunnel 6, a funnel roll 5 for feeding paper webs 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. ontothe plate 6, the plate 6 having a plurality of recesses 11, 12, 13configurated to conform to the shape of tension cylinders 8, 9, and 10which extend into the recesses with the exterior surfaces of the tensionrollers lying substantially flush With the plate 6.

There are further provided a plurality of pressure rollers 23, 24, 25and mounting means including the supports 29, 30 and holders 26, 27, 28for arranging respectively the simultaneous swivelling of all of thepressure rollers and the individual adjustment of the pressure rollers.

Various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that suchobvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A grooving funnel for rotary printing machines and Patented Sept. 12,1961 like apparatus comprising a grooving funnel plate, a funnel rolladjacent said plate for feeding paper webs onto said plate, said platehaving a plurality of recesses therein, tension cylinders extending intosaid recesses with the exterior surfaces of said tension cylinders lyingsubstantially flush with said plate, a plurality of pressure rollers,mounting means for said rollers supporting said rollers adjacent and inalignment with said tension cylinders so that folds will be preventedfrom forming in paper Webs passing between said tension cylinders andsaid pressure rollers, said mounting means including a support for saidpressure rollers, a shaft for said support, means rotatably adjustablysecuring said support on said shaft so that upon rotation of saidsupport all of said pressure rollers will be adjusted simultaneouslyrelative to said plate and said tension cylinders, said mounting meansfurther including a two-part holder pivoted to said support for each ofsaid pressure rollers, and adjusting screw means provided for eachholder for individually adjusting each of said holders and therespective pressure roller relative to said plate.

2. A grooving funnel according to claim 1, wherein said tensioncylinders are supported adjustably towards said plate and the paperwebs.

3. A grooving funnel according to claim 1, wherein said plate extends atan angle ranging between 50 and 75 degrees with respect to thehorizontal.

4. A grooving funnel according to claim 1, wherein said plate isconfigurated so that said recesses conform to the shape of said tensioncylinders.

S. A grooving funnel according to claim 1, including timed drive meansfor said funnel roll and said tension cylinders.

Crowell Dec. 1, 1885 Tompkins Jan. 12, 1909

